Clutching and speed-changing mechanism



' 'July l12, 193s.

J. COTAL CLUTCHING AND SPEED CHANGING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 26, 1951"Patented July 1'2, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT t OFFICE CLUTCHING ANDSPEED-CHANING MECHANISM Jean Cotal, Paris, France Application November26, 1937, Serial No. 176,739 In .France November 3 0, 1936 The presentinvention has for its object a six, eight or more speeds,V which areproperly spaced apart.

A speed-reducing device under mechanical control which permits oftransmitting to the driven shaft, either the speeds such as `they aregiven by the devices under electric control, or these speeds which arereduced in a determined ratio.

yAccording to another feature, the mechanism further comprises a devicefor braking the driven shaft, which utilizes the electro-mechanicalparts of the last planetary set which operates under electric control.

The various devices may be actuated from a distance by means of one ormore switches, and of electric wiring.

When the said invention is applied to certain machine-tools, orautomatic lathes, use is made of two switches which are adapted forbraking, stopping or reversal of motion, while at the same timeremaining at any given speed. Such driving and controlling devices maybe situated, for instance, upon the movable slide and within reach ofthe workman, who is thus enabled, without changing his place and simplyby his action upon a handle to effect the reversal of motion, change thespeed combinationin engagement, brake and stop the spindle.

These means for control'will reduce the fatigue of the-workman, and willalso afford an increased efficiency.

The mechanism as a whole is quite substantial, the gearing being alwaysin engagement. .It has a very reduced size, and can be readily containedin the fined stock or the machine frame.

The following description will set forth other features. v

' The accompanying drawing shows by way of example and in longitudinalsection, a construe? `tional form of a mechanism in conformity with theinvention providing sixteenspeeds which are suitably spaced apart ineach direction, with uncoupling, and with a braking device for thedriven shaft.

In the present embodiment, the mechanism comprises a driving shaft Iwhich-is coaxialwith an intermediate shaft A2, followed by a drivenshaft 3. These shafts are mounted in bearings 3, 4, 5 in the interior ofa casing 6. On the other hand, the end of the shaft 2 is rotatable in abore 1 formed in the shaft I, and in like manner, the end of the shaft 3is rotatable in a bore 8 formed in the shaft 2.

0n the casing 6 are mounted the electro-magother rotatableelectro-'magnets la, I4, l5, ls

' are mounted symmetrically to the said fixed electro-magnets, withreference to the rotatable ar- .matures I1, I8, I9, 20, 20- which arerespectively situated between the said electro-magnets, with which theyare adapted to make contact.

The electro-magnets I3 and I4 are positively secured to a hollow shaft2| which is centered on the intermediate shaft 2. The armatures I1 andI8 are centered on the said hollow shaft 2|.

In like manner, the electro-magnets I5 and I6 participate in therotation of a hollow shaft 22, on which the armature I 9 is centered.

The armature 20 is centered directly on the shaft 2, and it participatesin the rotation of the armature 20a.

The hollow shaft 2|, which is centered on the intermediate shaft 2, issecured on the left-hand side to a sun-wheel 23 in engagement withplanetary pinions 24 which are mounted on the armature I'I and whichalso engage an orbit wheel 25 with internal teeth, mounted on thedriving shaft I. 1

l The hollow shaft 2| is secured on the righthand side to a second sunwheel 26 engaging the planetary pinions 21 which are also in engagementwith an orbit wheel 28 with internal teeth secured to the armature I8,which is centered on the hollow shaft 2|.

The planetary pinions 2I are mounted on a disc 29 concentric with theshaft 2. The disc 29 further carriesv an orbit wheel 30 with internalteeth, in engagement with planetary pinions 3| which are also engagedwith a central sun wheel 32 secured to the armature I 9 which iscentered on the shaft 22.

.-The said shaft 22 is secured to an. orbit wheel 33 with internalteeth. The said orbit wheel engages the small teeth 34 of thedouble-toothed planetary pinions 34, 34', whose axles are mounted upon adisc 35 which is integral with or is separately secured to the end ofthe shaft 2. The large teeth 34'L of the said pinions are in engagementwith a central sun wheel 36 secured to the armature 20.

At its right-hand end, the intermediate shaft 2 is secured to a centralsun wheel 31 engaging the large teeth 35 of the planetary pinions havingtwo sets of teeth 33, 35, whose small teeth 33* are in engagement withan orbit wheel 35 having internal teeth, which is centered on theintermediate shaft 2. The axles of the planetary pinions 35, 35 aremounted on a disc which is 'secured to the driven shaft3.

Upon the hub of the main wheel 35 is mounted a slidable sleeve 45. l

A circular segment 4|, which is partially inserted into an internalgroove in the sleeve 45, is y also engaged with keys or pins 42, partlycontained in longitudinal slots which are parallel with the axis ofrotation XX and are spaced around the hub of the orbit wheel 35.

When suitable means are employed to displace the sleeve 45 to theri'ght, the pins 42 will enter holes 43 formed in the shaft 2, thusconnecting the orbit wheel 33 with this shaft. When the said sleeve ismoved to the left, the pins 42 are inserted into recesses 44 formed in amember se cured to the casing, and thus the orbit wheel 33 is held fast.v

In the middle position of the sleeve 45 as shown in the drawing, theorbit wheel 33 can now turn loosely on the shaft 2.

The gure shows by way of example a diagram for the electric control oftheaforesaid mechanism. It comprises two circular switches 45 and 45.

The switch 45 is provi'ded with a cross-shaped arm 41 which is connectedto one pole of a source of electric current 45. 'I'he other pole of thesaid source is connected to a ground, upon which the circuits areclosed. The said switch comprises contact-pieces 43', 45, 55, 5|, 52,53, 54. The contact-pieces 45* and 43 are connected in series to the arm55 of the right-handswitch 45. The contact-pieces 55 and 5| areconnected 'respectively to the electro-magnets I2 and I5. Thecontact-piece 52 is insulated. The contact-pieces 53 and 54 areconnected respectively to the electro-magnets I3 and 5.'

As concerns the switch 45, provided with thel 'the contact-pieces 53,which contact-pieces 55 jare connected together and are connected Yto thelectro-magnet I5.

A contact-piece 55 connected to thefelectromagnet I5.

A contact-piece 5| connected to the magnet I4. A

The contact-pieces of the switch'45 are spaced I electroapart in suchmanner that the said arm, which may have four positions, can be used tocut of! the source of current 43 (idle position), or to supply thecurrent to the electro-magnets I2 and I5, which position is shown in thedrawing (for the braking), or to supply current to the rotatableelectro-magnet I3 and to the switch 45 (for the the rotation of thedriving shaft I.

forward speeds), or to send current into the sta- I tionaryelectro-magnet 3 and into the switch 45 (for the rear speedsl.'

'I'he arm 55 of the switch 45 may have diiferent positions which permitof making allthe combinations for energizing thel electro-magnets inorder to obtain the variousdesired speeds.

The aforesaid mechanism provides for sixteen speeds in each direction ofmovement.

To obtain the speeds for the forward motion, the operation is asfollows:

Thevarm 41 of the switch 45 is placed in the position which permits ofsending the current into the rotatable electro-magnet I3, and'ofconnecting the right-hand switch 45 to the source of current 45.

The armature I1 pertaining to the electromagnet |3 thus energized, willprevent any relal tive movement between the sun wheel23 and theplanetary pinions 24, and as these cannot turn upon their axes, theywill secure the orbit wheel 25 to the sun wheel 23, and thus the hollowshaft 2| is driven at the same speed as the driving shaft I.

The sleeve 4| is moved to the right in such way as to secure the orbitwheel 35 to the sun wheel 31. This latter position will be maintainedfor the eight speeds mentioned hereafter.

The double-toothed planetary pinions (33- 35) cannot turn, and thedriven shaft 3 is thus actuated at the same speed as the shaft 2.

16th Speed-The handle of the switch 45 is moved in the direction ofthe'arrow`f in order to send the current into the rotatableelectro-magnets I4, I5 and I5. g

This has the effect of locking. together each of the' three planetarysets in use: in the first set, the wheels 25 and 25 are secured togetherby the adhesion of the armature I3 to the electro-magnet I4; in thesecond set, the planetary pinions 3| are secured to the wheel 32 by theadhesion of the armature I5-to the electro-magnet I5; in the third set,the wheels 33 and 35 are secured 'together by the adhesion of thearmature 25* to the electro-magnet I5. The result will be that the shaft2 and hence the shaft 3 will be driven atthesamespeedasthedrivingshafti.

15th speed- The electro-magnets I4, I5 and I2 are energized, and thefirst two sets in use are held fast as in the preceding case, but in thethird set, the armature 25 adheres to the sta` tionary electro-magnetI2, thus holding the small sun wheel 35, around which will rollthe largetoothed part 34 of the planetary pinions, the small toothed part 34 ofwhich is actuated by the large orbit wheel 33 which participates in 14thspeci- The electro-magnets I4, and I5 are energized. In the same way asfor the sixteenth speed, the rst and third set in question will transmitthe movement without reduction, but in the second set, the amature I3adheres to the fixed electro-magnet I I, thus holding the small sunwheel 32, around which will turn the planetary pinions 3| which are alsoengaged with the large orbit wheel'35, which v participates in therotation of the driving shaft I. This affords a speed reduction, whichis greater than the preceding for the shaft 22, and'hence for the shafts2 and 3 with which it is connected in rotation.

'13th speed-The electro-magnets I4, |I and I2 are energized. Theilrstset transmits the movement withoutreduction; the second and third set,as above lobserved for the fourteenth and.

fifteenth speeds, reduce the movement, thus affording for the shafts 2and 3 a slower speed than the, preceding.

12th speed-The electro-magnets I0, I5 and I6 are energized. The twosecond sets transmit the movement without reduction, but in the firstset, the armature I8 adheres to the fixed electromagnet I 0, thusholding the large orbit wheel 28, in the interior of which the sun wheel26 causes the planetary pinions 2'I to roll, thus giving to the hollowshaft 22 and to the shafts 2 and 3 a slower speed than in the precedingcase.

11th. speed.-The electro-magnets I0, I5 and I2 are energized. To thespeed reduction due to the first set (as in the twelfth speed) is addedthe reduction due to the third set, while the second set transmits themovement without reduction. This affords finally, for the shafts 2 and3,

' al slower speed than in the preceding case.

10th speed-The electro-magnets I0, H and I6 are energized. The first twosets reduce the speed in succession, and the hollow shaft 22 as well asthe shafts 2 and 3 with which it is connected in rotation, are nowdriven at a slower speed than in the preceding case.

9th speed-The three fixed electro-magnets Ill, II and I2 are energized.The three speedreductions are added together, andthe shafts 2 and 3 aredriven at a slower speed than in the preceding case.

8th speed-If it is desired to still further reduce the speed of theshaft 3, the sleeve 4U is moved to the left, and as its pins 42 enterthe recesses 4d of a member secured to the casing,

this will ho'ld the large orbit Wheel 39, the internal teeth of whichengage the small toothed part of the planetary pinions 38, 3811, whoselarge toothed part 38 is driven by the small sun wheel 3'I of the shaft2. By the operation of these gear wheels alone, this will afford agreater reduction than the one obtained for the ninth-speed by theaggregate of the three speed-reductions in use. In this case, it issimply necessary, in order to obtain the eighth speed, to energize therotatable electro-magnets I4, I5 and I6 as was done for the sixteenthspeed. The shaft 2 is driven at the same speed as the shaft I, but bythe final speedreducer employed, the shaft 3 will rotate at a slowerspeed than for the ninth speed.

Again, in order to obtain the seventh, sixth, iifth,'fourth, third,second and first speeds, it is simply necessary to respectively energizethe electro-magnets, as in the case ofthe fifteenth, fourteenth,thirteenth, twelfth-eleventh, tenth, and ninth speeds.

'I'his series of sixteen speeds may also be obtained in the reversedirection. For this purpose. the .arm of the switch 45 is used toenergize the fixed electro-magnet 9 instead of the rotatableelectro-magnet I3. The armature I1 adheres to the fixed electro-magnet9, thus holding the carrier of the planetary pinions 24, and theselatter, when driven by the large orbit wheel 25 secured to the drivingshaft, will cause the rotation of the sun wheel 23 in the contrarydirection.

'Ihe movement is then transmitted in this direction, at more or lessreduced speeds, by the use of the different planetary gear sets whichfollow, as observed in the preceding cases.

When in service, should it be desired to brake the shaft 2 and the shaft3, it is simply necessary to move the arm of the switch 45 and to giveit the position shown in the drawing. The

4electro-magnets I2 and I6 are energized, and

each attracts its corresponding armature 20, 20a;

the third set (which is the last set to the right with the electriccontrol) is hence locked together and is held against rotation, thusslowing down and stopping the shaft 2 and therefore the shaft 3.

As above set forth, all of these movements of the controlling switchescan be carried out from a distance, and in the case of a lathe, forinstance, the workman can effect the same without being obliged to leavehis place.

The different planetary sets can be of such construction that theirvarious combinations will aord the desired range of speeds and forinstance for lathes, the range in geometrical progression according toRenard.

The planetary pinion carrier which is secured to the driven shaft 3 maybe providedwith teeth 62 for actuating various controls for theauxiliary mechanisms which serve, for instance, for changes of pitch orof forward feed.

Such teeth may also drive the shaft of the machine, either `directly o1through transmission gear, as shown in the drawing.

Obviously, the invention is not limited to the embodiment hereindescribed and represented, which is given solely by way of example.

If necessary, the mechanical speed-reducing device may be arranged inorder to obtain a certain number of speed reductions which are properlyselected, so as to reproduce. if required, a greater number of times theseries of eight speeds already obtained by the electric control, thusobtaining a total of twenty-four or thirtytwo speeds in each direction.v

The. invention further relates to a device which is separate or iscombined with the same machine, and consists of a second gear-boxsimilar to' the one' above mentioned, but having a less capacity oftransmission, i. e. adapted to transmit only a smaller driving torque,with a different range if required, and the entering shaft of which isdriven by the gear-wheel 62 or by any other means. The said gear-box,which is constructed in order to obtain the necessary speeds for thecontrol of pitch and feed, may be entirely controlled by .combinationswitches such as are above described, these being within reach of theworkman.

In certain cases, the action upon the switches of the two gear-boxes maybe synchronized with the control of the pivoting movement of the turretsor tool supports of the machine, and thus the workman can make avsimplemovement in the shortest time, in order to stop the spindle,

bring forward the proper tool, and provide for the proper rate ofrotation .and feed, for the lathe work which he is commencing.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. In combination, a casing, a driving shaft, an`intermediate shaft anda driven shaft, said three shafts being supported in line in saidcasing, a number of successive planetary sets each consisting of threemembers coaxial with said shafts and comprising two concentricallydisposed gears/and a pinion carrier, of at least one planetary pinionrotatably mounted on said car- Iier and in mesh with said gears, of twoelectromagnets respectively connected with said casin-g and with one ofsaid three members, and of an armature connectedwith a second of saidthree members and adapte'dto be attracted by said electromagnets, saidpinion carriers being connected in the first set next the driving shaftwithv the corresponding armature so as to produce selectively a forward,drive and a reverse drive, in the last set with Isaid intermediateshaft, and in each of the other sets with one of the two concentricallydisposed gears of the following set which is not connected with thearmature of saidfollowing set. and the two concentrically disposed gearsof the rst set being connected respectively to the driving shaft and tothe gear of the second set which is not connected with the amature ofsaid second set, means adapted to energize selectively one electromagnetin each set, three elements coaxial with said shafts and comprising asun wheel secured to said intermediate shaft, an orbit wheelconcentrically disposed with relation to said sun wheel and rotatablymounted on said intermediate shaft and a. support secured to said drivenshaft, at leastvone planetary wheel rotatably mounted on said supportand in mesh with said sunwheel and -said orbit wheel, and means adaptedto connect selectively said orbit wheel with said casing and withanother of said three elements.

2. A combination as claimed in claim v1, in which said means adapted toconnect selectively said orbit wheel with said casing and with anotherof said elements consists of a sleeve slidably 'mounted on said orbitwheel, and cooperating surfaces provided on said sleeve, on said casingand on said sun wheel adapted to be brought selectively into engagementwhen said sleeve is moved in either direction on said intermediateshaft.

3. A combination as claimed in claim 1, in which the transmission ratioof said sun wheel, orbit wheel, support and planetary wheel when saidorbit wheel is stationary is smaller than the smallest transmissionratio obtainable with all the planetary sets which follow the firstplanetary set.

4. A combination as claimed in claim 1, in which said planetary wheel isformed of two parts of different diameters, the part of smaller diameterbeing in mesh with said orbit wheel,

and the part of larger diameter being in mesh` with said sun. wheel, thesizes of said wheels being so chosen that the transmission ratio of saidsun wheel, orbit wheel, support and planetary wheel when said orbitwheel is stationary is smaller than the smallest transmission ratioobtainable with all the planetary sets which follow the first planetaryset.

5. A combination as claimed in claim 1, in which the armature of thelast set comprises two parts adapted to slide axially with relation toeach other and to be attracted respectively by the two correspondingelectromagnets, and

in which means are adapted to energize'said two correspondingelectromagnets simultaneously, so as to ensure the braking of theintermediate shaft and of the driven shaft.

6. A combination as claimed in claim 1, in which said means forenergizing one electromagnet in each set comprises a source of electriccurber of groups of pairs of stationary contact members equal to thenumber of planetary sets following the first planetary set, each groupcorresponding to one of said planetary sets following the first set, andthe two contact pieces of each pair being connected respectively withthe two electromagnets of the corresponding set, said second switchbeing also provided with a movable element carrying for each group ofstation.- ary contact members a movable contact member adapted to engageselectively the stationary contact members of said group, and connectingmeans between the movable contact piece of the first switch and themovable contact members of said second switch adapted to connectelectrically said movable contact piece and said movable contact membersfor the two positions in which said movable contact piece engages saidstationary contact pieces.

'7. In combination, a casing, a driving shaft, an intermediate shaft anda driven shaft, said three shafts being supported in line in saidcasing, a number of successive planetary sets each consisting of threemembers coaxial with said shafts and comprising two concentricallydisposed gears and a pinion carrier, of at least one planetary pinionrotatably mounted on said carrier and in mesh with said gears, of twoelectromagnets respectively connected with said casing and with one ofsaid three members, and of an armature connected with a second of saidthree members and adapted to be attracted by said electromagnets, saidpinion carriers being connected in the first set next the driving shaftwith the corresponding armature so as to produce selectively a forwarddrive and a reverse drive, in the last set with said intermediate shaft,and in each of the other sets with one of the two I I concentricallydisposed gears of the following set which is not connected with thearmature of said following set, and the two concentrically disposedgears of the first set being connected respectively to the driving shaftand to the gear of the second set which is not connected with thearmature of said second set, and the armature of the last set beingformed of two parts adapted to slide axially with relation to each otherand to be attracted respectively by the two electromagnets of said lastset, a source of electric current, a first switch provided with twostationary contact pieces connected respectively with the twoelectromagnets of the first planetary set, with two stationary contactpieces connected together, with stationary contact means connected withthe two electromagnets of the last planetary set, and with a movablecontact piece connected with said source of current and adapted toengage selectively one of the stationary contact pieces connected withthe electromagnets together with one of the stationary contact piecesconnected together or to engage said stationary contact means with thetwo electromagnets of the last set or to remain out of engagement withall of said stationary contact pieces and contact means, a second switchprovided with a number of groups of pairs of stationary contact membersequal to the number of planetary sets following the first planetary set,each group corresponding to one of said planetary sets following thefirst set, and the two contact pieces of each pair being connectedrespectively with the two electromagnets of the corresponding set, saidsecond switch being also provided with a movable element carrying foreach group of stationary contact members a movable contact memberadaptedto engage selectively the stationary contact members of said group,connecting means between the movable mesmo A contact members of seidsecond switch and said stationary contact pieces connected together ofsaid rst switch, three elements coaxial with said shafts and comprisinga sun wheel secured to said intermediate shaft, an orbit wheelconcentrically disposed with relation to said sun wheel and rotatablymounted on said intermediate shaft, and a support secured to said drivenshaft, at least one planetary wheel rotatably mounted on said supportand in mesh with said sun wheel and said orbit wheel, and means adaptedto connect selectively said orbit wheel with said casing and withanother of said three elements whereby the rotation of said intermediateand driven shafts may be braked, stopped or reversed without changingthe position of the second switch.

JEAN COTAL.

